Tyranny of Steel-Chapter 1199 Planning For Retirement
It had been fifteen years since Berengar defeated the Japanese in a war against Itami's Empire, and by now the Nation had recovered to the point where it was second only to the Reich.
However, due to its treaty, it was not permitted to have a military of any considerable size.
However, this was not the matter that was most important to the world. Instead, the union of the Japanese Empress, and her the German Kaiser had brought peace and stability. And currently Itami was visiting Kufstein where her mother and sister had both found husbands.
While Momo had married Linde's little brother, Mibu Saya had perhaps done the most shocking thing of all, and married Berengar's father Sieghard. The day Sieghard took Mibu as his second wife came as a shock to both Berengar and Itami, who were convinced that Gisela would never permit her husband to take another wife.
Nobody knew what had convinced the woman to accept such a thing, especially not Berengar, who knew that his mother had always disapproved of his polygamous lifestyle, but he was just happy that his father was doing well, despite his old age.
Currently, the Itami, and von Kufstein families were gathered together in the Imperial Palace while a 45-year-old Berengar, sat next to his fifteen-year-old son, Itami Ryu, who closer resembled his mother, than his father.
Itami Ryu was set to become the next Emperor of Japan, after he came of age to relieve his mother, and had lived a life travelling between Germany and Japan. His father was a man of great renown across the globe, and because of that, he was prideful of his parentage. Though at many times he felt envious of his half siblings who were able to live with the man full time.
It was not every day that he got to visit his grandparents, and thus the teenage boy was actually quite happy to see Sieghard, and Mibu, who appeared quite happy together as they shared a few drinks with their children.
Mibu, in particular, was exceptionally friendly with Berengar, going so far as to hug him frequently, and tell him how much she always wanted a son. Something she had done repeatedly over the last ten years, since she first married his father. Today was no exception.
"Oh, Berengar, it has been my greatest honor to have a son like you. You have no idea how much I have always wanted a son of my own, and now I have the most exceptional son in the world!"
While Berengar was used to such praise from the woman, he was also accustomed to the angry glances his mother would shoot him, as if he was a traitor for being so friendly with this woman who had clearly stolen his father's heart. Thus, when Gisela glared at him yet again, he could only smile, before cracking a joke which he knew would upset everyone at the table.
"Well, if I am your son, then that means Riyo is my little sister. Is that not correct?"
This was technically true. Not only was Berengar now married to Itami, but he was also her step brother, something which he constantly felt awkward about whenever herm other would bring it up. Perhaps because of all the weird porn that existed around such a fetish in her past life.
But no matter how much Itami hated the idea of being step siblings with her husband, she could only sigh and accept it as defeat. After all, their parents married after they had gotten married themselves, so it was not like there was anything remotely gross about the whole thing.
Of course, Riyo also hated how Berengar would bring it up when they were being intimate together, constantly calling her his precious imouto as he came deep inside her. Even though Itami was aware that her husband had a romantic relationship with his actual sister, she still did not feel comfortable being called his sister while they were together in bed, or in public. Thus, she punched him in the shoulder ever so slightly, which caused the man to feign offense with a conceited smile on his face.
"Ow... What was that for?"
Itami did not say a word, and simply snubbed her man, something which Mibu found comical as she added gasoline to the flame.
"Of course, you are one hundred percent correct in your assumption. You are my Riyo, and Momo's big brother now, and you would do well to look after them."
While Itami was uncomfortable with being referred to as Berengar's little sister, Momo revelled in it. Not only had she been calling them a big brother, since before he had even married her elder sister, but now that their parents were married, she called him big brother every chance she got. Displaying how much she always wanted an older brother of her own.
"Big brother is so shameless in marrying one of his little sisters, at least he did not marry them both."
Herman could only conceal his mild irritation with his wife's jest, as he silently his brother-in-law chat with his family. However, the look Itami gave his wife did not go unnoticed. As for Itami Ryu, he finally spoke up after watching the awkward atmosphere that existed between his family at the mention of their complex family tree.
"Wait, a second... If I remember correctly, mother, and father got married before grandmother, and grandfather, isn't that correct?"
Mibu smiled at her grandson and nodded her head with a warm smile on her face as she told the tale of how she and Sieghard had gotten married.
"Of course, it was actually at your parents' wedding that Sieghard and I met, and I just knew after that night that he was the man of my dreams. I was married once when I was much younger, much like Sieghard was already married to Gisela here. However, your other grandfather died long before you were born.
Anyway, after the wedding, Sieghard and I kept in touch, and for several years he kept promising me that we would get married. But he had to convince Gisela first, and that was no easy task!"
Gisela scoffed at the mere mention of the whole ordeal. She had many an argument with her husband over his infatuation with the Japanese milf, and had on several occasions told him she would divorce him if he dared to take another bride.
However, divorce was damn near impossible in Germany, and could only be instigated under several scenarios. The most common reason a woman could divorce her husband was if she could prove in a court of law that he abused her. While the most common reason for a man to divorce his wife was if he could prove in a court of law that she cheated on him. There was no such thing as irreconcilable differences in the Reich.
Thus, ultimately, the say in whether or not Sieghard wanted another wife was entirely his decision. And Mibu had wrapped him around her fingers quite easily. To Berengar, this was not a problem. His mother's feelings were antiquated, and it was only after he told her off that she had verbally consented to Sieghard taking Mibu as another bride.
Still, this did not mean that she did not hold any resentment towards either of them. And thus she had begrudgingly been allowing Sieghard and Mibu to live the married life back at their estate. Upon seeing that the tension was so high, Berengar decided to make an announcement which shocked the entire family.
"Anyway, I thought I should make my intentions clear to you all. When Ryu here is old enough to succeed his mother, Itami will be moving in with me. In fact, I will also be handing over the reigns of the Reich to Hans within the next five to ten years, where I will retire to the countryside, not far away from your home with all of my wives and lovers.
I have already accomplished all that I have set out to do in this life, and to sit upon the throne any longer would be nothing but unecessary stress. If Hans ever needs me for anything, perhaps to mediate between his brothers, I will be more than happy to do so. But the time is near for me to hang up my gloves and retire in peace."
The room fell silent after hearing Berengar's words, everyone in the room was shocked that Berengar would be retiring at such a young age from his position, everyone except for Itami. As one of his wives, the two of them had been discussing when he would retire for some time now. In fact, Berengar had been vocal about this subject with all of his wives and lovers.
The time for his sons to prove their worth and lead the world which he had created was nigh. All that was left for Berengar was to tie up a few loose ends and complete his political career. And then, he could live the rest of his life in peace with the women he loved.
